Portable folding fire-escape



(No Model.) I

W. H. MILLETT. PORTABLE FOLDING FIRE ESCAPE.

No. 499,792. Patented June 20, 1893. FE? 9 1- 3 J9 J3 Z I J? \c xq E 3 )Vfiqessas. I IQJEQMK v l I Z ,4 e

v for receiving the horizontal portion of the accompanying drawings, wherein' UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. MILLETT, OF BEVERLY, MASSACHUSETTS.

PORTABLE FOLDING FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 499,792, dated June 20, 1893.

' Application filed March 31, 1893.

T0 aZZ whom) it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. MILLETT,-a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Beverly, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Portable Folding Fire-Es capes, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in portable folding fire escapes for the purpose of saving'liv'es in case of fire, and it is carried out as follows, reference being had to the Figurel represents a front elevation of the improved fire escape, showing it in position for use. Fig. 2 represents a side elevation of the invention in the same position. Fig. 3 represents a detail perspective view-of the same; and Fig. 4 represents a top View.

Similar letters refer to similar parts wherever they occur on the different parts of the drawings. V

In the drawings A, A, represent a series of |,shaped links having loops or eyes a, a,

next link in the series as shown in the drawings. The upper end of the folding ladderis adapted to be hung or otherwise suspended from hooks B, B, preferably secured to the wall 0, at or near the window or other wall opening D, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2; but if so desired the ladder may be hung from the inside of the building in any convenient manner as circumstances may require.

For the purpose of causing the ladder to hang at a proper distance away from the wall 0, so as to permit persons to go down or up easily without touching the wall, I hinge one or more bails, arms, or projections E, E, preferably to the'horizontal part of the links as shown, and for the purpose of ant matically holding such bails or arms in a horl ontal or nearly horizontal position when the l dder is used,I provide said balls or arms wit stop projections e, 6, adapted to bear agains I the vertical portions of the links A, A as sho n in the drawings.

Serial No. 468,493. (No model.)

When the fire escape is not in use-it may be folded together in a very small compass, and if so desired it may be packed away in a case or box in the room, and is ready for use at any time by simply hooking it on to the wall, window sill, &c., and throwing its loose end out, when the bails or arms E, E, will antomatically assume the position shown in the drawings, thus holding the fire escape in a convenient position to enable persons to descendor ascend as the case may be.

'lhedevice is very simple in construction, strong and durable, not liable to get out of order, and can be adjusted for use instantly in case of danger by any ordinary person, and when placed in position as described, it affords a ready means for saving persons imperiled by fire. If so desired, it may be provided with a rope or other hoisting device so as to enable it to be raised from the streetin case it should not be located in the building on fire.

Having thus fully described the nature, construction, and operation of my invention, I wish to secure by Letters Patent and claim- 1. A portable folding fire escape consisting of a series of shaped metal links A, A, pivoted together, combined with one or more bails or arms E, pivoted to said links and adapted to automatically hold the ladder at a proper distance from the wall of the building, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A portable folding fire escape, consisting of a series of L1 shaped metal links pivoted together, combined with one or more bails or arms, E, E, pivoted to the said links, and having stop projections e, e, for the purpose of automatically holding the ladder at a proper .distance from the wall of the building, substantially as herein set forth and described In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, on this 21st day of March, A. D. 1893.

WILLIAM H. MILLETT.

Witnesses:

ALBAN ANDREN, EDWARD L. MILLETT. 

